Low-grade
inflammation in adipose tissue is recognized as a critical event in the development of
obesity-related co-morbidities. This chronic
inflammation is powerfully augmented through the infiltration of macrophages, which together with adipocytes, perpetuate a vicious cycle of inflammatory cell recruitment and secretion of
free fatty acids and deleterious
adipokines that predispose to greater incidence of metabolic complications. In the last decade, many factors have been identified to contribute to mounting unresolved
inflammation in obese adipose tissue. Among them, pro-inflammatory
lipid mediators (i.e.,
leukotrienes) derived from the omega-6 polyunsaturated
arachidonic acid have been shown to play a prominent role. Of note, the same
lipid mediators that initially trigger the inflammatory response also signal its termination by stimulating the formation of anti-inflammatory signals. Resolvins and protectins derived from the omega-3 polyunsaturated docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic
acids have emerged as a representative family of this novel class of
autacoids with dual anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving properties that act as "stop-signals" of the inflammatory response. This review discusses the participation of these endogenous
autacoids in the resolution of adipose tissue
inflammation, with a special emphasis in the amelioration of
obesity-related metabolic dysfunctions, namely
insulin resistance and
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.